Energetica India Magazine

casting, scheduling, DSM optimisation and intelligent dis- patch will become just as important as building generation assets themselves. RTC will scale when customers consistent- ly experience reliable, clean power during the hours that mat- ter most. Q Energy storage is crucial for the growth of renewable en- ergy. How do you view the current state of storage adop- tion in India, and what changes do you expect over the next five years? Deepak Thakur: Storage is rapidly moving from being an en- abling technology to becoming a central pillar of renewable energy procurement. Today, deployment is being driven by policy support, competitive tenders, and state-level initia- tives. The next phase will focus on execution and operational performance. BESS is likely to scale faster because they are modular and well-suited for peak management, grid support, and renew- able balancing. Over the next five years, the industry will de - velop a much deeper understanding of battery performance, degradation, safety, cycling behaviour, warranties and lifecy- cle economics. At the same time, India should continue strengthening domes- tic manufacturing capabilities across cells, battery packs, bat- tery management systems, recycling and research. Building domestic capability is important, but it must evolve alongside competitiveness, quality and continuous innovation. Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) will follow a different trajec- tory. Although they involve longer development cycles, they are well suited for long-duration storage and can become a critical backbone for renewable integration. With supportive policies, faster approvals, and robust long-term offtake ar- rangements, more private PSPs should move from announce- ments to commissioning over the coming years. Q Many companies have set net-zero targets. How prepared is the Indian industry to achieve these goals, and what more needs to be done to support their transition? Deepak Thakur: Net zero is increasingly becoming a business strategy issue rather than merely a sustainability initiative. It is closely linked to cost competitiveness, export markets, customer expectations, and long-term business resilience. Preparedness, however, remains uneven. Large corporates INTERVIEW energetica INDIA- Jul-Aug_2026 31